Mythical Three Kingdoms-Chapter 1413 - 1363: The Rating Issue

Sun Qian was slightly taken aback by this, and turned to look at a few Grand Craftsmen beside him. They had all been working with him for quite some time, they all had decent abilities, and they were honest people. Given that the senior Yuan mentioned this, and others agreed, it must indeed be true.

"Are you saying there’s a big issue with how Lord Liu Bei is conducting the craftsman evaluations?" Sun Qian asked with a frown. To be honest, Sun Qian had been so busy for these past few years, he didn’t even go home for the new year, working on construction on the Yellow River, with no time for ratings.

The Grand Craftsmen looked at each other, and finally the senior Yuan, being older, stepped forward to speak directly, "Very big, because the assessments are conducted by outsiders, focusing purely on external intricacies, without paying attention to actual value. Of course, we also understand the engineering section, filled with experts."

"Does this mean we need to follow the exam format of the engineering discipline?" Sun Qian, not quite catching on, asked. Frankly, that kind of engineering test could at most be conducted once a year.

The craftsmen looked at each other awkwardly, and Chen Que stepped forward and said, "Leader Sunx, how many of us Grand Craftsmen from less formal backgrounds can actually read or write and explain the so-called principles?"

"We can make things that meet requirements, but if we have to write down why, we just can’t express it," the burly man chimed in.

"With that engineering test, frankly, we can all make those things, and we can also improve them." As he spoke, the senior Yuan produced a ten-arrow crossbow made entirely of wood, and then fired off five shots into the sky.

"See, by adding this part, it can not only shoot continuously but also stop at any time. After Miss Huang made this thing, I pondered for a few days and was able to create it too, but the problem is having me write it down..." the senior Yuan awkwardly looked at Sun Qian, admitting he couldn’t even write his own name.

"This is the improved windlass by the second-ranked Leader Zheng, actually it’s even simpler." The muscular man also took out a small windlass, "And with the mortise and tenon structure improved, modifying this part can carry more water. Back in Luoyang, one of the Ten Attendants once had me make such things, and I made many versions."

Sun Qian, in the middle of drinking water, almost spewed it out. He knew that the craftsmanship skills of a Grand Craftsman were on a completely different level compared to ordinary craftsmen, but this was unexpectedly easy.

"Actually, for craftsmen reaching the level of a Grand Craftsman, who amongst them doesn’t have a trick or two? For fellow Grand Craftsmen, what you can create, I can figure out how to recreate after glancing and pondering a bit. The difference among us can’t be too great." The senior Yuan was fiddling with a ten-arrow crossbow, and before Sun Qian realized, it became a pile of parts, completely unrecognizable as a weapon.

Sun Qian just looked at senior Yuan, seeing his embarrassment, and finally opened his mouth to say, "The world is too chaotic, one must travel far and wide, and since bows and arrows aren’t effective, crossbows are powerful, but they aren’t allowed, so I usually carry a bunch of parts..."

Sun Qian’s hackles rose, this truly was unanticipated. Who could tell what a pile of wooden parts was, and at these Grand Craftsmen’s level, if one couldn’t assemble a crossbow mechanism within a few breaths, they should be kicked out of the Grand Craftsmen’s rank.

As for the issue of crossbow bolts, without arrowheads, wooden arrows suffice. The power of a heavy crossbow is enough, a wooden arrow can kill a person, without armor, like the small crossbow senior Yuan just used, absolutely lethal on the first shot, this is totally unmanageable.

As for assembly, looking at how senior Yuan disassembled the crossbow mechanism in less than two breaths, Sun Qian dared to guarantee this guy could reassemble it just as quickly.

"Pardon me, pardon me." The old man packed the parts into his pocket. Who could check that? Although this group of Grand Craftsmen had their specialties, they all had woodworking skills, and could shape whatever you wanted with an axe, even polish it.

Sun Qian was speechless, truly the top of the industry, none of them were simple, utterly insane.

"Alright, let’s just pretend I didn’t see anything earlier, and continue discussing the rating issue." Sun Qian waved, indicating he’d pretend he didn’t know anything before.

"We think, the rating shouldn’t be left to outsiders, it must be done by insiders, otherwise, they simply won’t understand. From a Grand Craftsman’s point of view, just by looking at a craftsman’s fundamentals, one can basically assess their skill level." The senior Yuan spoke, after exchanging glances with the others.

To be honest, this suggestion slightly sounded like bargaining, but on one hand, these Grand Craftsmen acknowledged Sun Qian, and on the other hand, as Grand Craftsmen, they barely had the qualifications to make some demands.

"That does make sense." Sun Qian thought for a moment before speaking, "I’ll consider it and report to Lord Liu Bei. Generally, anything related to craftsmen is handled by me, and my suggestions usually aren’t rejected."

Before the others could respond, Sun Qian continued, "However, one thing needs clarification, this is ultimately an official matter, even if it goes through, the government will still be involved."

"Because the rating is very significant to us, we can’t help but pay attention to it. We hope Leader Sun will be particularly vigilant at that time." Chen Que said seriously, as this issue concerned themselves and their apprentices, they couldn’t help but think carefully.

If it wasn’t for having familiarized themselves with Sun Qian, confirming that he was reliable, with their status, they’d never disclose such matters to him, as it equated to negating government decisions.

However, this indeed concerned them directly, as well as their descendants, and involved their apprentices. Because these levels all had respective welfare benefits.

So far, the promised benefits by Liu Bei have largely been fulfilled. After the craftsman ratings, craftsmen of certain levels receive not just social welfare, but actual money and grain; Liu Bei was clear on that point.

This compels craftsmen to take it seriously. Becoming a Grand Craftsman, even without direct work, just by teaching apprentices, the state would still support you, which is extremely important welfare for someone like the senior Yuan who is nearing old age.

The senior Yuan looks decent now but is actually sixty years old. Though his body is still relatively strong, in at most ten years, it will be difficult to continue this work, and then life will definitely become an issue. Being a Grand Craftsman doesn’t equate to wealth!

The problem is, Liu Bei’s rating system is quite harsh, the senior Yuan participated once under a false name; he didn’t even pass to level 7, let alone becoming a Grand Craftsman, though it was his ultimate skill.

Though being level 7 is already high, and has good benefits, accepting it would seriously insult his skills, therefore senior Yuan just left...